Thompson Family Christmas

Thompson Family Christmas was replete with nieces and nephews this year, or granddaughters and grandsons, or great granddaughters and great grandsons, depending on one's familial position.

My brother Luke and his wife Mary drove through rain, sleet, and snow, possibly literally or otherwise figuratively, all the way from Seattle, WA with their 2-year-old toddler and 4 month-old baby.

It was a treat, as well as a hoot, to have the 6 little people (Tiff's 4 kids and Luke's 2) take their place in the family Christmas.

The statistics were staggering, with 3 married kids and their spouses, 2 college kids back from college, 1 Tyler (who calls for a category all his own) home on vacation days, 9 kids on Christmas vacation from school, Mom/Grammy and Dad/Big Papa, the 6 grandbabies, then Grandma Lu and Gramps, and Granny and Grandpa.

We went caroling to the neighbors (neighbors is a loose term more accurately described as across the field and into the woods), had family pictures taken (more accurately described as watching all the nieces and nephews melt down one by one), took up 3 rows in the movie theater for "Voyage of the Dawn Treader," watched Connor play the comedian at his 2-year-old birthday party, opened a few gifts early, and even did some napping and reading.

It was merry.

Here's a peek.

1. Driving home for the holidays.

2. Christmas comforts

3. Oreo truffles

4. Fireside reading

1. Caroling

2. Watching Polar Express with husband at night in our guest room at Granny's

3. Opening gifts with Lilly

4. Our classic manger scene

Nieces and nephews

1. Me, Parker, and mustard yellow

2. Family pictures

3. Kaden & Garrett

4. Love

Merry, merry.
Happy Friday everyone!
My weekend plans must, must include taking down my Christmas decorations, although Neal says as long as they're down by February, we're respectable.